Butterfly Gardening

Have you seen Daggerwing Nature Center’s butterfly garden? It is located directly in front of the nature center as you approach the lobby doors. A butterfly garden is an environment that is designed to attract and sustain a variety of butterflies through providing food for both caterpillars (host plants) and adult butterflies (nectar plants), and meets their needs for sunshine and shelter. Our butterfly garden is a “certified butterfly sanctuary” recognized by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. (FFGC). In order to become certified, we had to meet the following guidelines:

Butterfly Sanctuary Guidelines

No harmful chemicals or biological control agents shall be used in or near the area that is to be declared a Butterfly Sanctuary

Specific larval and nectarous food sources shall be available continuously and in sufficient quantities

A variety of habitats shall exist to fill all the needs of as many butterflies as possible: sunny, dappled and shaded areas; damp spot for salts and water.

(Courtesy of FFGC, Inc.)

Are you interested in creating your own butterfly garden? Check our
Program Calendar page to see when the next Butterfly Gardening class is scheduled. You can also check out the below resources for more information.

Do you have an interest in butterfly gardening, but don’t have the space to do it at your home? You could help maintain ours! If you would like to volunteer your time to help us with our garden, check out our
Volunteer Opportunities page to see how you can get involved!

Are you interested in creating your own butterfly garden? Check our
Program Calendar page to see when the next Butterfly Gardening class is scheduled. You can also check out the below resources for more information.

Do you have an interest in butterfly gardening, but don’t have the space to do it at your home? You could help maintain ours! If you would like to volunteer your time to help us with our garden, check out our
Volunteer Opportunities page to see how you can get involved!

Butterfly Gardening Resources:

Daggerwing Butterfly Garden Guide: This guide provides visuals of the variety of butterfly plants that we have in the Daggerwing Nature Center butterfly garden. Plants are identified as host or nectar plants.

Getting Started in Butterfly Gardening:This article outlines the basics of starting a successful butterfly garden. (Courtesy of University of Florida IFAS Extension. Courtesy of the University of Florida IFAS Extension.

Butterfly Gardening in Florida:This publication provides information on the plants and butterflies that thrive in each region in Florida. Courtesy of the University of Florida IFAS Extension.

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